Peristaltic pumps provide closed-loop recirculation system for analysis of pathogens in food samples

Matrix Microscience is a specialist company that has recently developed a novel technique for analysing food samples to detect the presence of Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli pathogens. Matrix Microscience’s Pathatrix system is unique in that it circulates the entire sample so as to detect the target pathogens, even if there is only one present in the entire 25 g sample. To do this requires a pump that is easy and quick to use, does not require cleaning or maintenance, and guarantees no cross-contamination between samples. The only technology that fits the bill is peristaltic pumping, and there is only one company’s pumpheads that provide the simple access, robustness and reliability that are required: Watson-Marlow.

Each Pathatrix system consists of five independent testing stations within one housing, so there are five off-the-shelf Watson-Marlow 313D series pumpheads per machine.

Once loaded, the Pathatrix workstation runs for 180 minutes at the desired incubation temperature – from 85 to 100 degrees F – with the Watson-Marlow pump circulating the fluid within a closed loop to ensure complete incubation. After the incubation step is finished, the target microorganisms, now captured by the reagent, are magnetically restrained while the residual debris and other unwanted material is removed when the peristaltic pump operates again for the wash step.

Dr Adrian Parton, Managing Director of Matrix Microscience, states: “The Watson-Marlow pumpheads are key to the success of the Pathatrix system, providing the circulation that ensures that the entire sample is analyzed. One of the benefits of the Pathatrix system is that it needs only around two minutes of hands-on time, and the 313D pumphead’s flip-top design and automatic tube tensioning are perfect in this respect. Before we specified this unit, however, we did evaluate several alternatives. Nonetheless, the Watson-Marlow pumpheads appeared to be the most robust, and their longevity has now been proven in the field: in two years, we have not had a single problem.”

More information about the Watson-Marlow OEM pumps range.